Pumps – With condition responsive pumped fluid control – Pressure responsive relief or bypass valve
Utility Patent
1999-03-29
2001-01-02
Thorpe, Timothy S. (Department: 3746)
Pumps
With condition responsive pumped fluid control
Pressure responsive relief or bypass valve
C418S171000
Utility Patent
active
06168391
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an oil pump apparatus for a vehicle, and more particularly, an oil pump apparatus which has a higher pressure when the revolution of a drive source, for example a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, increases.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In Unexamined Published Japanese Patent Application (Kokai) No. Hei 9-256969, for example, there is disclosed a conventional oil pump apparatus. The conventional oil pump apparatus comprises: an oil pump housing, a rotor rotatably located in the oil pump housing, the rotor forming a first set of pockets having a capacity or volume increasing toward a rotating direction of the rotor and a second set of pockets having a capacity or volume decreasing toward the rotating direction of the rotor, a plurality of suction ports connected with the first set of pockets, each of the suction ports being isolated from other adjacent suction ports, a discharge port connected with the second set of the pockets, and a control valve which includes a valve member, a spring for urging the valve member and a spring chamber for disposing the spring, the control valve being operatively positioned to control fluid flow through the plurality of the suction ports and the discharge port, and the control valve is operatively connected to select between a first condition in which the control valve connects with the suction ports and a second condition in which the control valve connects the discharge port with one of the suction ports and cuts off the other suction ports.
In the above conventional oil pump apparatus, when the revolving speed of the rotor is increased to obtain more discharged hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic oil than necessary, the surplus discharged hydraulic pressure is supplied to one of the suction ports by the control valve. As a result, the oil pump apparatus becomes more efficient.
Here, in the above conventional oil pump apparatus, since the volume of the spring chamber is varied with respect to the movement of the valve member, the spring chamber opens to the atmosphere such that the variation of the pressure of the spring chamber does not prevent the valve member from sliding. However, the opening of the spring chamber draws the air in the oil pump apparatus, when the oil pump apparatus is rotated. Thus, there is some concern that the air drawing makes the oil pump apparatus become inefficient and noisy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an oil pump apparatus without the foregoing drawbacks.
In accordance with the present invention, an oil pump apparatus comprises an oil pump housing; a rotor rotatably located in the oil pump housing, the rotor forming a first set of pockets having a capacity increasing toward a rotating direction of the rotor and a second set of pockets having a capacity decreasing toward the rotating direction of the rotor; a plurality of suction ports connected with the first set of pockets, each of the suction ports being isolated from other adjacent suction ports; a discharge port connected with the second set of the pockets; and a control valve which includes a valve member, an urging member for urging the valve member and an urging member's chamber for disposing the urging member, the control valve being operatively positioned to control fluid flow through the plurality of the suction ports and the discharge port, and the control valve is operatively connected to select between a first condition in which the control valve connects with the suction ports and a second condition in which the control valve connects the discharge port with one of the suction ports and cuts off the other suction ports, wherein the urging member's chamber is always communicated with one of the suction ports.
Other advantages of invention will become apparent during the following discussion of the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5738501 (1998-04-01), Eisenmann
patent: 5759013 (1998-06-01), Miyazaki et al.
patent: 5842449 (1998-12-01), Eisenmann
patent: 195 23 533 A1 (1995-06-01), None
patent: 19523533 A1 (1995-06-01), None
patent: 0712 997 A2 (1996-05-01), None
patent: 0785361 A1 (1997-07-01), None
patent: 9-256969 (1997-09-01), None
Letter from German patent law firm Herman-Trentepohl, Grosse, Bockhorni & Partner regarding above-referenced DE 19523533 A1.
Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
Gray Michael K.
Reed Smith Hazel & Thomas LLP
Thorpe Timothy S.
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